NextSharkNextShark.com

‘I had to send him back to China’: UFC fighter faces heat for comment aimed at Mongolian opponent

‘I had to send him back to China’: UFC fighter faces heat for comment aimed at Mongolian opponent

A racist comment made by UFC flyweight fighter Cody Durden drew immediate backlash, prompting Durden to apologize. 

November 24, 2021
SHARE
A comment made by UFC flyweight fighter Cody Durden following his victory over opponent Qileng “the Mongolian Murderer” Aori drew immediate backlash, prompting Durden to apologize. 
Racist remark: After claiming his first victory as a UFC fighter in a close decision on Saturday, Durden exclaimed that he sent Aori “back to China where he came from,” MMAmania reported.
View post on Twitter
  • “I knew he was going to be tough, but I had to send him back to China where he came from,” Durden told commentator Daniel Cormier.
  • After a momentary silence, Cormier finally said: “My man, congratulations. Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for Cody Durden!”
  • The remark did not go over well among UFC fans and observers who blasted the fighter on social media.
  • UFC fighters Jeff Molina, Muhammad Mokaev, Casey O’Neill and Belal Muhammad were among those who called Durden out. 
View post on Twitter
Subscribe to
NextShark's Newsletter

A daily dose of Asian America's essential stories, in under 5 minutes.

Get our collection of Asian America's most essential stories to your inbox daily for free.

Unsure? Check out our Newsletter Archive.

View post on Twitter
View post on Twitter
View post on Twitter
  • Asked if he is taking his comments back during the post-fight interview, Durden said: “If they don’t like it, do something. Sign the contract. It doesn’t matter to me, you know. I said what I said and it is what it is… Emotions were high. It’s a fight business. He’s punching me in the face, and I was punching him in the face… It’s his family or mine, and tonight, my family eats.”
Aori’s response: Aori, who hails from Inner Mongolia, called the comment of his “coward” opponent “disgusting” in an Instagram post. 
  • “I destroyed this coward in the cage, but the judges gave him a chance to say something disgusting through his disgusting mouth,” the 28-year-old fighter wrote. “He can do nothing in the fight, and I saw fear through his eyes. He is a coward.”
  • In a tweet, Durden defended his remark and even accused Aori of being disrespectful: “Listen, the guy was disrespectful, and wouldn’t shake my hand at the weigh-ins. After beating him, I simply meant he could go home wherever that may have been. I apologize if I offended anyone, that certainly was not my intention!”
Featured Image via MMA Junkie
MOST READ
    HAPPENING NOW
      Ryan General

      Ryan General is a Senior Reporter for NextShark

      SHARE THIS ARTICLE:

      RELATED STORIES FROM NEXTSHARK

      Support
      NextShark's
      Journalism

      Many people might not know this, but NextShark is a small media startup that runs on no outside funding or loans, and with no paywalls or subscription fees, we rely on help from our community and readers like you.

      Everything you see today is built by Asians, for Asians to help amplify our voices globally and support each other. However, we still face many difficulties in our industry because of our commitment to accessible and informational Asian news coverage.

      We hope you consider making a contribution to NextShark so we can continue to provide you quality journalism that informs, educates, and inspires the Asian community. Even a $1 contribution goes a long way. Thank you for supporting NextShark and our community.

      © 2023 NextShark, Inc. All rights reserved.